Bringing John McCain up to Speed
Earlier this week CNN aired an interview between Wolf Blitzer and CNN correspondent Michael Ware, who was reporting out of Baghdad. In the interview Wolf asks Ware to comment upon remarks made this week by Senator John McCain about the success of the Baghdad surge and how safe it is now for Americans in the city.
McCain Says Baghdad Safe for Americans
Ware has been reporting from Iraq for a while. Here's an excerpt from the transcript:
BLITZER: So is Baghdad really getting safer? A very different view of the reality there from our own reporter on the ground who says Senator McCain couldn't be more wrong. Let's go back to CNN's Michael Ware.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Michael, you've been there, what, for four years. You're walking around Baghdad on a daily basis. Has there been this improvement that Senator McCain is speaking about?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'd certainly like to bring Senator McCain up to speed, if he ever gives me the opportunity. And if I have any difficulty hearing you right now, Wolf, that's because of the helicopter circling overhead and the gun battle that is blazing just a few blocks down the road.
Is Baghdad any safer? Sectarian violence, one particular type of violence, is down. But none of the American generals here on the ground have anything like Senator McCain's confidence.
I mean, Senator McCain's credibility now on Iraq, which has been so solid to this point, has now been left out hanging to dry. To suggest that there's any neighborhood in this city where an American can walk freely is beyond ludicrous. I'd love Senator McCain to tell me where that neighborhood is and he and I can go for a stroll.
And to think that General David Petraeus travels this city in an unarmed Humvee? I mean, in the hour since Senator McCain has said this, I've spoken to some military sources and there was laughter down the line. I mean, certainly, the general travels in a Humvee. There are multiple Humvees around it, heavily armed. There are attack helicopters, Predator drones, sniper teams, all sorts of layers of protection.
So, no, Senator McCain is way off base on this one -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael, when Senator McCain says that there are at least some areas of Baghdad where people can walk around and whether it's General Petraeus, the U.S. military commander, or others, are there at least some areas where you could emerge outside of the Green Zone, the international zone, where people can go out, go to a coffee shop, go to a restaurant, and simply take a stroll?
WARE: I can answer this very quickly, Wolf. No. No way on Earth can a Westerner, particularly an American, stroll any street of this capital of more than 5 million people.
I mean, if al Qaeda doesn't get wind of you, or if one of the Sunni insurgent groups don't descend upon you, or if someone doesn't tip off a Shia militia, then the nearest criminal gang is just going to see dollar signs and scoop you up. Honestly, Wolf, you'd barely last 20 minutes out there.
I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And we have just learned that two Americans were killed tonight in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad.
TAGS: John McCain, Wolf Blitzer, CNN, Michael Ware, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq Surge, Surge, Troops, Senator, McCain
- March 31, 2007
Comments
I've long thought McCain's best days were behind him, but this sealed it for me. He says the surge is working. Working how, Senator? Back in December when President Bush announced the troop surge he said it would only be temporary -- I think he said it would last something like 3-6 months. He pulled that out of some hat, I guess.
Are we still on schedule, Mr. President? Ha! LOL! Senator McCain, are we still on schedule? Is that how the surge is working? These guys don't know what the hell a schedule is. They say you're handing Iraq to the terrorists when you question their competence.
McCain wants it both ways: he wants to be able to question the president's leadership while simultaneously saying we're winning the war. Winning it how? By what measure are we winning? That we haven't been attacked at home since 9/11? And they can prove that that's due to their brilliant strategy in Iraq? Bullsh*t on that. I say we owe the aliens for that one. You could prove one just as easily as the other.
"Give us one more chance," they say as we head into Year 5. "All we need is through the summer," they say. Right, and hell's freezing over.
Are we still on schedule, Mr. President? Ha! LOL! Senator McCain, are we still on schedule? Is that how the surge is working? These guys don't know what the hell a schedule is. They say you're handing Iraq to the terrorists when you question their competence.
McCain wants it both ways: he wants to be able to question the president's leadership while simultaneously saying we're winning the war. Winning it how? By what measure are we winning? That we haven't been attacked at home since 9/11? And they can prove that that's due to their brilliant strategy in Iraq? Bullsh*t on that. I say we owe the aliens for that one. You could prove one just as easily as the other.
"Give us one more chance," they say as we head into Year 5. "All we need is through the summer," they say. Right, and hell's freezing over.
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Sounds like just another day in Detroit. I was just in Detroit and I saw dismembered corpses and suiciders all over the place. I am sure Baghdad is much safer, and just as sure that McCave-in will be strolling down Haifa street soon.